Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-10-20
Fred Douglas on RepublIcanism.

NOen@esO va AetpuDAAtdHlSuls
The Republican Central Committee
of New York invited Frederick Douglas
to take part in the campaign now going
forward in that state.
On account of poor health the invita-
ton was refused, but his letter of re-
fusal is full of sound sense and judy
ment
His faith in the Republican party is
as firm as ever and also his desire to
have the control of the nation return to
the party that freed the slave and
brought our country to its present state
of prosperity. The following are ex-
tracts from his letter of refusal:
'There is no question that, what
ever may have been the faults and
shortcomings of the Republican party,
it has been, first and last. the party of
justice, liberty and progress. 1t is also
plain that whatever the Democratic
party has yet done in the same direc-
ton, it has derived its inspiration from
the example set by the Republican
party 1t, in fact, has worn, when it
has worn anything tolerably decent,
the old shoes and secondhand clothing
of the Republican party. OF course |
am glad to have the Democratic party
follow the Republican, even in the
ragged and WORKOUT garments with
which it now and then covers itself.
But that party is altogether too slow of
foot, too heavily burdened with its ugly
record and the solid south to be safely
trusted to lead in the cause of liberty,
enlightenment and progress. 1t is bad
enough to have that party hanging on
to the skirts of the Republican party.
doing its best to hinder it and be
dragged forward by it, but it is far
more mischievous to thrust it in front
where it can block the way Of the Re-
publican party.
'If l could go upon the stump, as
you have hOnored me in asking me to
do, | would cndeavor to impress upon
the colored citizens of the state of New
York the great and paramount import
ance of Republican victory in that
state this fall. / would endeavor to
show them that such a victory would
tend to the promotion of their cause,
for, disguise it as we may, the welfare
of the colored people north and south
has not yet passed beyond the line of
danger. While the Negro can be drag
ged from railroad cars in the south, for
no fault but the color of his skin; while
he can be sold into slavery on the mere
pretense of crime; while he can be
others are put in prison for offenses
against the law; while he is presumed
when accused to be guilty until he can
prove his innocence; while he is SUBJ
jected to lynch law and The halter
without the pretense of judge, jury, adj
vocate or legal accusers; while he is
compelled to work for nominal wages
and be defrauded by store orders; while
he is deprived of equal means afforded
TO all other classes and colors for the
education of his children, and while a
Republican senate pa sses bill for such
equal education and Democratic house
of representatives votes down that
measure of enlightenment and state
manship; while he may be driven
from the ballot box and his vote goes
uncounted- it may be safely said that
the negro has a cause, and a great
cause, which will be favorably affected
by Republican victory in New York
and the nation, and disastrously affected
by Democratic victory.
mo colored man who is true to him
self and to his cause will allow himself
to be diverted from it by any merely
side political issue However worthy
may be the ends sought by Labor par
ties, Prohibition parties or other par
ties, the first duty of every colored man
is TO support with all his might the party
which thus far has done most and is
doing most to cause his rights, liberty
and manhood to be respected. The col
ored man who does not see this to be his
duty, and allows himself to be used as
the tool of the Democratic party, shows
himself to be utterly blind to the highest
welfare Of his people, or willingly and
Willingly sacrificing the interest of the
whole to the personal interest of few"
Political questions are settled by con-
veutions. Agitators OF social reform